Low wages dragged down further as workers are forced to migrate in search of jobs, the lack of employment opportunities and increasing income inequality have contributed to rising social marginalisation.  Women, dalits, adivasis, other oppressed castes and religious minorities, in particular muslims have been pushed to the margins of the labour market, if not out of it. They are not just losing opportunities of employment but also the opportunity of social mobility from one generation to the next. Low incomes and irregular jobs have affected access to adequate healthcare and a quality education, both of which constitute the key recognised necessities for intergenerational social mobility. The lack of opportunity is leading not just to further marginalisation but also to rising discrimination. Social inequality is increasingly contributing to discrimination, differentiation, prejudice, violence and hate crimes in society on grounds of gender, caste, religion, race, region and language.

Freedom for People, Not Corporations

The inability to grow the home market has resulted in the failure to create jobs while destroying the livelihoods of those dependent on land. This has caused the spread of movements against land acquisition in rural areas especially amongst small and marginal peasants. Correspondingly in urban and new industrial enclaves the increasing employment of contract and other forms of irregular labour has contributed to united trade unions of both regular and contract workers. Increasingly all efforts at collective action and the exercise of right to freedom of association, even in the private sector, are being seen as acts of violence and criminalisation against the state and have been met with the force of the police.  Democratic dissent and the assertion by peoples of their fundamental rights, including the freedom of speech, have come to be seen as anti-state and anti-development and are being violently put down. This constitutes a serious attack on fundamental political rights of citizenship.

Build United Front of all Progressive Forces – We Can and We Shall

The NTUI recognises that these challenges will not be addressed in one stroke or in one general election and as we play our part, as we must, in this election the struggle has to go forward beyond it too.

We know that none of the dominant political parties are reflective of the economic, social and political crisis and the necessity for advancing national development rooted in self-reliance and sustainability that can meet the needs and aspirations of the working class. Defending democracy and advancing democratic rights must be our primary task. This is imperative to build a struggle for a just and egalitarian society and advancing the rights of the working class. We cannot influence this outcome or effect change by ourselves alone. This is the time for the widest possible united front of all progressive trade unions and other forces and we commit ourselves to it. As we build our struggles we shall continue to stand in solidarity with struggles against repression and exploitation in other countries and strengthen our alliances with those we share a common purpose with.  For it is only through our unity that we can build democratic militant union power.  

• Protect Right to Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
• Wage Commission for all to Guarantee a Living Wage
• Equal Wage for Equal Work
• Universal Health care and Indexed Pension for all
• Mandatory Reservation in Private Sector
• Protect Livelihood Rights for all
• Regularise all Contract Workers - Regularise All Honorarium Workers